Psychosocial Aspects of Scleroderma

Linda Kwakkenbos; Vanessa C Delisle; Rina S Fox; Shadi Gholizadeh; Lisa R Jewett; Brooke Levis; Katherine Milette; Sarah D Mills; Vanessa L Malcarne; Brett D Thombs

doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2015.04.010

Psychosocial Aspects of Scleroderma

Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2015 Aug;41(3):519-28. doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2015.04.010. Epub 2015 May 27.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, 4333 Cote Ste Catherine Road, Montréal, Québec H3T 1E4, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, 4333 Cote Ste Catherine Road, Montréal, Québec H3T 1E4, Canada; Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, 3700 McTavish Street, Montréal, Québec H3A 1Y2, Canada.
³ San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University, University of California, 6363 Alvarado Court, San Diego, CA 92120-4913, USA.
⁴ Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, 4333 Cote Ste Catherine Road, Montréal, Québec H3T 1E4, Canada; Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A2, Canada.
⁵ San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University, University of California, 6363 Alvarado Court, San Diego, CA 92120-4913, USA; Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-4611, USA.
⁶ Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, 4333 Cote Ste Catherine Road, Montréal, Québec H3T 1E4, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada; Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, 3700 McTavish Street, Montréal, Québec H3A 1Y2, Canada; Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A2, Canada; Department of Medicine, McGill University, 3655 Sir William Osler, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada; Department of Psychology, McGill University, 1205 Dr. Penfield Avenue, Montréal, Québec H3A 1B1, Canada; School of Nursing, McGill University, 3506 University Street, Montréal, Québec H3A 2A7, Canada.

PMID: 26210133
DOI: 10.1016/j.rdc.2015.04.010

Abstract

Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc; also called scleroderma) have to cope with not only the physical impacts of the disease but also the emotional and social consequences of living with the condition. Because there is no cure for SSc, improving quality of life is a primary focus of treatment and an important clinical challenge. This article summarizes significant problems faced by patients with SSc, including depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disruption, pain, pruritus, body image dissatisfaction, and sexual dysfunction, and describes options to help patients cope with the consequences of the disease.

Keywords: Psychosocial; Quality of life; Scleroderma; Self-management; Systemic sclerosis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Anxiety
Depression / etiology
Fatigue
Female
Humans
Male
Quality of Life
Scleroderma, Systemic / psychology*
Self Care
Self-Help Groups
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / etiology

Grants and funding

TR3-267681/Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada